Mason  🏃‍♂️ ✂️

Sure, but the question we're disagreeing about is whether there is a node in the causal graph titled "lower value on adventure/risk" that has an arrow pointing from it to some important outcome measures in the American economy/society

In my model, there (probably) isn't -- so if increased education costs affect important outcomes in society, it isn't via a "lower value on adventure/risk" intermediate node

... but one thing that could make me update towards your model is if Openness to Experience has gone down over time in the US. I don't actually know the answer to that. But maybe a personality researcher like @hardsci does?

Depending on the meaning of risk-taking it may be more in the extraversion domain (sensation-seeking, boldness, impulsiveness, etc.). There's one study I know of showing later generations have gone *up* in extraversion - but I'm not sure I put a ton of stock in that study

Having lived through a few generations now and having seen every younger one called out by old"er" folk usually based on anecdote rather than data, I'm beginning to see cohort arguments as intellectual amuse-bouches--puffs of indefensible statements that everyone likes...

This is definitely the headline, but coming from one of those younger gens myself, *my anecdotal experience* is a lot more optimism for my generation coming from elders than the youth! I think "crotchety old folks disappointed with the kids" may itself be the big cultural myth.

There's a lot of anecdotal evidence for the crotchety old folk idea :)